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Question

Difficulty: Very hardMultiple-Meaning Words

Read the following sentence:

"Despite the rapid modernization of naval warfare tactics, the veteran admiral chose to cleave to the established doctrines that had defined his early career."

Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence?

  1. A
    sever
  2. B
    abandon
  3. adhereAnswer
  4. D
    update

Answer

The correct answer is adhere, meaning to stick fast or remain firmly attached.
In this context, the target word means to stick fast, be faithful to, or adhere firmly to something. The context clue 'Despite the rapid modernization' creates a contrast, indicating that the admiral is resisting change and holding tightly to 'established doctrines'. Therefore, 'adhere' is the precise synonym for this specific usage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure for context clues.
Identified the transition word 'Despite' at the beginning of the sentence.
Contrast words indicate that the action taken will be the opposite of the expectation set by the first clause (rapid modernization).
2
Examine the specific phrasing around the target word.
The phrase is 'chose to cleave to the established doctrines'.
The preposition 'to' combined with 'established doctrines' strongly signals a relationship of attachment or loyalty to past methods.
3
Evaluate the target word's multiple meanings against the established context.
The word is a contronym. While its primary meaning is 'to split apart', its secondary meaning is 'to stick closely together'.
Only the secondary meaning (sticking together) logically fits an admiral remaining loyal to older rules instead of modernizing.
4
Select the synonym that matches the contextual definition.
Selected 'adhere'.
It perfectly matches the required meaning of holding firmly or remaining devoted to something.

Key Concept

Using contrast context clues to determine the correct definition of a contronym (a word with multiple, opposite meanings).
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Topics

Multiple-Meaning Words

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